Prof. Manda Venkatramana currently the Vice Chancellor Academics and Dean, College of Medicine at Gulf Medical University has been associated with the Thumbay Group for more than 16 years. He is a Clinical Professor of Surgery and Consultant Surgeon at Thumbay Hospital, Ajman. He graduated from Saurashtra University, India and is a Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons from Edinburgh and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, UK. Prof. Manda has more than 29 years of teaching and clinical experience as a General Surgeon and more than a decade of administrative experience in a medical university. He is the recipient of the ‘Best Teacher Awards’ conferred on the basis of popular choice by students. He introduced new student-centered pedagogy and assessment strategies considered international best-practices and innovative new programs like the ‘Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences’ and ‘Associate Degree in Preclinical Sciences’ which are the first of its kind in the country. He was instrumental in establishing the American Heart Association Accredited Life Support Training Center offering Basic and Advanced Life Support Training Courses at GMU in his capacity as the Director of the state-of-the-art Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare. Prof. Manda’s areas of clinical research include ‘Diabetic foot’ and ‘Urolithiasis’ which resulted in publications in peer-reviewed national and international journals. He has also contributed to chapters in books. His special interest in educational research is in the area of ‘Early Patient Contact (EPC) and its impact on the communication skills of medical students.’ This action research resulted in the implementation of EPC as a regular part of the medical curriculum which was much appreciated by students, and also was presented in many international medical education conferences. Under his leadership, the college has grown manifold and is well on its way to become a leading medical college in the country and the region.